Meat shaper and preserver



Dec. 18,1923. 1,4775% A. M. DEMUTH .MEAT SHAPER AND PHESERVER Filed Dec. 5, 1921 v 66 WE 29 "l 740mm" w]? w! Mlle/1111M,

Fatented Dec. 18, 1923.

UNET

ALFRED III. DEMUTEI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEAT SHAPEE AND PRESERVEE. I

Application filed December 5, 1921. Serial No. 519,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED M. DEMUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Coolr and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meat Shapers and Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in meat shaper and preserver, particularly adapted though not necessarily limited in its use for shaping hams during the cooking operation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shaper and preserver of this character which is adapted to beadusted so that meats of varying sizes may be shaped therein and at the same time serve as a means for preserving and protecting the meat.

To the attainment of these ends and the acomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention and in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a right hand end elevation.

Figure ,3 is a detail perspective view of one end of the shaper showing the shaper in an open position.

Figure 1- is a enlarged detail sectional view taken on line ei, Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the shaper and preserver consists essentially of two body portions and 11, which are constructed of any suitable flexible material and are substantially semi-circular in cross section.

One of the sections is provided with slots 12 withinthe confines of the edges thereof and adj acent'the edge 13 of the section. If desired a suitable r eenforcing casing 14 may be provided around the walls of the slots 12.

Any number of these slots may be provided but there are preferably two, one adjacent each end of the section 10 and are of any desired length to extend transversely of thesection.

The inner end of the section 11 overlaps the inner end of the section 10 and the section 11 is provided with projection 16, prefshaped portion 26 adapted to extend over the members will be seated erably in the form of bolts which project into and through the slots 12.

' Thumb nuts 17 are carried by the bolts 16 and serve as a means for clamping the two sections 1.0 and 11 of the body portion together and in their adjusted positions with respect to each other. When the sections 10 and 11 are thus assembled, the slots 12 in the section 10 will be covered or closed by the overlapping portion of the section 11.

The other edges of the members 10 and 11 are deflected respectively as at 18 and 19 to form perpendicular portions, the portion 18 being provided with openings 20 and the portion 19 being provided with projections 21 adapted to enter the openings 20, these projections 21 and openings 20 serving as a means for guiding and positioning the edges 18 and 19 with respect to each other.

Any suitable means may be provided for clamping the edges or portions'18 and 19 together. A suitable and eflicient means embodies a pair of clamping members 23 which are pivotally mounted as at 241 to the portion 19, the free extremities 25 of the clamping members forming handles while the body portion intermediate the handle and the pivot 24 is constructed to form a U the edges of the portions 18 and 19 as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

The member 10 is preferably provided with a handle 27 adjacent the edge 13 thereof, and which handle serves as a means whereby the sections or members 10 and 11 may be adjusted with respect to each other when thethuinb nuts 17 are loosened so as to vary the size of the shaper, after which the thumb nuts may be tightened again.

If desired the members 10 and 11 may be respectively provided with inwardly projecting corrugated portions 2829 extending transversely thereof to form grooves or space 28 -29 therebetween. These corrugations or grooves 28-29 on the two members 10 and 11 co-incide so that they'will overlap so that the corrugations on one of within the corrugations on the other member in any position to which the members 10 and 11 may be adjusted with respect to each other.

The grooves or channels between the corrugations form receptacles for the juices from the meat while the meat is being cooked and during the cooking operation these juices will be held in close proximity considerable shrinkage occurs and the meats have also been somewhat distorted which is objectionable. By the use of the present invention the shrinkage is considerably reduced owing to the fact that the juices which are extracted from the meat during the cooking are retained in close proximity to the meat and the shaper also serves as a means for preventing the distortion of the meat. Furthermore the meat may be allowed to remain in the shaper during shipment and until used, thereby preventing the meat from being exposed to the atmosphere and obviating the necessity of wrapping the meat in paper or otherwise, which wrap-per would absorb the juices with the result that the meat very quickly becomes dried out.

In use, the sections 10 and 11 are adjusted with respect to each other a sufficient amount to accommodate the size of the piece of meat to bereceived thereinto. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening the thumb nuts 17. After adjustment the thumb nuts are tightened.

The shaper is then opened sufficiently by springing the members 10 and 11 away from eachother, to receive the meat. When the sides are released their natural springing tendency will cause them to move towards each other and around the meat. The edges or portions 18-19 are then drawn close to each' other, their position with respect to each other being guided by the projections 21 andthe openings 20, and then the clamps 23 are positioned over the adjacent edges of the portions 1819.

I, to remain in the shaper until it has become The meat will then be secured within the shaper which grips the meat only with sufficient force as to prevent distortion of the meat but not with such force as to cause the juices to' be expressed therefrom under the pressure. The shaper with the meat therein is then placed in the cooking apparatus and the meat, after being cooked. is allowed cooled, or as long thereafter as desired and until it is desired to slice or cutthe meat.

Obviously this shaper may be constructed of any suitable material and maybe of any desired shape so as to conform to the congour of the piece of meat to be shaped there- While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of: the several parts, within the scope of, the claims,

without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means adjustably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximity to each other, and means for securing the'last recited edges.

2. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means ad justably connecting the members at oneedge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximity to each other, guides for positioning the last recited edges with relation to each other, and means for securing the last recited edges. 1

3. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means adjustably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into'proximity to each other, and fastening devices for securing the last recited edges, the said means embodying a bolt carried by one of the members, there being a slot in the other member and a nut carried by the bolt, the said bolt carrying member extending across the slot in the other member.

4. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means -ad justably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximity to each other, and fastening devices for securing the last recited edges,

the said members being provided with in-- wardl opening transverse grooves.

5. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means adjustably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximityto each other, and fastening devices for securing the last recited edges, the

said members being provided with inwardly 7. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means adj ustably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximity to each other, and a clip device pivotally connected with one of the said members, said clip device engaging over the last recited edges.

8. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible arched members overlapping each other along one edge, there being transverse slots in one of the members adjacent the overlapping edges and within the confines of the edges of the member, bolts carried by the other member projecting into and operable within the slots, clamping nuts carried by the bolts for maintaining the parts in a fixed relation, the other edges of the members being shaped to form perpendicular portions adapted to be brought into close proximity, and a fastening clip adapted to engage over the edges of the said perpendicular portions.

9. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible arched members overlapping each other along one edge, there being transverse slots in one of the members adjacent the overlapping edges and within the confines of the edges of the member, bolts carried by the other member projecting'into and operable within the slots, clamping nuts carried by the bolts for maintaining the parts in a fixed relation, the other edges of the members being shaped to form perpendicular portions adapted to be brought into close proximity, a fastenin clip adapted to engage over the edges 0 the said perpendicular portions, there being openings in the perpendicular portion of one of the members, and projections on the other member and adapted to project into said openings for positioning the last recited edges with respect to each other. i

10. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible arched members overlapping each other along one edge, there being transverse slots in one of the members adjacent the overlapping edges and within the confines of the edges of the member, bolts carried by the other member projecting into and operable within the slots, clamping nuts carried by the bolts for maintaining the parts in a fixed relation, the other edges of the members being shaped to form perpendicular portions adapted to be brought into close proximity, and a fastening clip adapted to engage over the edges of the said perpendicular portions, the said members being provided with spaced transverse-corrugations forming troughs therebetween.

11. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible arched members overlapping each other along one edge, there being transverse slots in one of the members adj a cent the overlapping edges and within the confines of the edges of the member, bolts carried by the other member projecting into and operable within the slots, clamping nuts carried by the bolts for maintaining the parts in a fixed relation, the other edges of the members being shaped to form perpendicular portions adapted to be brought into close proximity, and a fastening clip adapted to engage over the edges of the said perpendicular portions, the said member being provided with spaced transverse corrugations forming opening spaces, the spaces in the said members co-inciding, the corrugations in one of the members overlapping and extending into the respective corrugations in the other member.

12. A meat shaper and preserver embodying two flexible body members, means adjustably connecting the members at one edge and for maintaining the members in their adjusted position, the opposite edges of the members being adapted to be brought into proximity to each other, fastening devices for securing the last recited edges, and a handle connected with one of the members adjacent the said overlapping edges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 26th day of November, A. D. 1921.

ALFRED M. DEMUTH. 

